Tortured by Tear Troughs No More! - New York, NY

So this time around, the process was VERY different and honestly after a couple days, I was scared that I effed up and shouldn't have spent less than before thinking for the same level of results... but I'm a silly dumbass sometimes and my worrying was totally unnecessary. So far.

So like I said, I opted to get Restalyne in my low ass tear troughs (and only my tear troughs, not my upper lip like I contemplated) whereas I previously had Juvederm. This doctor-- a board certified plastic surgeon just like my previous one-- did not inject me the way the first doc did; first time I had basically one poke and he used a cannula that distributed the Juvederm in basically one fell swoop for each eye, so healing was basically done within a day. THIS TIME, the doctor used a syringe and poked the skin to fill in, which was painful and uncomfortable, especially since the first time I felt hardly anything. My right eye was poked about 4 times which left immediate swelling and redness, my left eye required like 7 pokes which caused massive bruising and swelling, and obviously since my first experience I had no bruising or swelling I was SCARED SH*TLESS for the following days, thinking I saved $400 but got butchered in return. Good news is, I was not butchered. I'm actually pretty happy with the results so far, and I still have about a week left to see the real results.

I'll post pics of the days right after when I can, but today, 8 days after the injection, I think the right side is pretty much settled with no bruising or swelling and the right side still has a nasty red bruise but it is pretty coverable with my magical array of color corrector concealers. Swelling seems to be gone and I thought I saw and felt a lump a few days ago, but that also seems to have gone away. I think I'm seeing what happened the first time around, which was at first it was a bit puffy, then it looked like there could be a tad more filler, but then it seems to actually even out and I wouldn't think I'd need more. I would much rather look natural than be over filled (which is how I looked when I was swollen last week!), so I think I got what I wanted with that one visit and the rest of my syringe will just die a lonely, sterile dumpster death. I don't want lip injections, I don't want to go into work with the kind of swelling and bruising I'm bound to get after what my eyes looked like, I just wouldn't want it to be obvious that I got lip injections, and besides, I have nice lips :*

I guess I feel less AMAZED because this is my second time now and it's less miraculous, but it is so worth it. It seems like such a small fix but it makes such a difference to me, this was one of those severe fixations that no one ever called me out on, but it ate at me, and I feel so much better now that it has been corrected and I look like the version of myself I feel like.

Also a note on Juvederm vs. Restalyne-- it's very early to say, but I think I actually might prefer Restalyne. I think Juvederm sort of exaggerated my dark circles (perhaps it was the Tindall Effect?) and Restalyne almost seems to slightly improve them, though of course I still conceal my Italian dark circles. My doctor also said that this may last up to two years whereas Juvederm lasted about a year, so here's hoping!

So all in all, I am very glad that I did this, I plan on doing it again when needed. If sunken undereyes, abnormally low tear troughs (like mine-- basically at the cheek) and the shadows caused by them cause you lots of self consciousness, it is very worth it to get fillers. It is a simple procedure and even with the syringe technique, the healing time passes very quickly and is not massively unpleasant, just unsightly for a few days. But I went into work, covered up my right eye and let my right black and blue hang tough, I embraced that I looked like a badass and just worked the look in black leather. Builds character!

Hey, all! So I've commented on this post (originally posted in December 2012) (!!!!) a couple times talking about how I wish I could get tear trough fillers again, and I'm happy to say that I am!

I live in NYC and as I've mentioned, a syringe of a HA is pretty expensive here. I've been saving up since starting an awesome new job, but I actually decided to go to a different plastic surgeon in New Jersey, one whom I completely trust (and is conveniently less expensive, because NJ is not quite a beauty capital like NYC?). I've booked my appointment for Monday, June 29th, and I am SO FREAKING EXCITED.

This time I am trying Restalyne in my (once again, very sunken, very dark, very VERY irritating) tear troughs, as I've heard it lasts a little longer than Juvederm (what I previously had and felt lasted visually for almost a year). A good friend of mine has had Restalyne in her tear troughs and absolutely recommended it. The plastic surgeon I am going to is a woman named Dr. Friedlander, she is board certified with great reviews here, plus my own mommy is a patient of her's! (Mom is considerably less vain than me, but she did have a blepharoplasty by this doctor about 10 years ago which looked awesome, and just got a chemical peel by her which she is very pleased with.)

I am 25 years old now, so I honestly can't tell if my tear troughs have gotten worse than they were when I was 22 (I've been taking very good care of my skin the past couple years, especially the eye area), but all I know is I am once again Tortured by Tear Troughs. When I get them filled I'd like to write more of a personal entry explaining some of my views on self-image, self-expression and societal influence over what we deem "flaws", but I need some fresh inspiration to really churn that out. I'll get that inspiration injected into my face next week.

I am also MAYBE MAYBE MAYBE… thinking of getting a tiny bit of Restalyne in my upper lip since I know I won't be using that full syringe. Here's the thing though: I can't stand obvious lip fillers. I have a really full bottom lip and with my signature over-lined lipliner trick my top lip totally looks as full (psh, I've been over-lining for years, Kylie Jenner can take several seats.)-- however I am very curious to know what I'd look like having that fuller top lip without the liner. I don't dislike my lips, and that's where I get unsure, I don't want to eff with a good thing and end up looking like a buffoon with lips like a swollen anus. We'll see. I would really just be doing it for [RS bleep] and giggles because why waste the Restalyne when I already panic if my lip liner isn't in my purse? Anyone with Restalyne in the lips experience, comments are encouraged.

Alright you beautiful and intelligent creatures-- wish me luck on my trek to my homeland (NJ) and feel free to share any personal anecdotes, famous quotes, tasty baking recipes, angst haikus, or general comments.

Hey beauties-- I've decided to get another round of tear trough fillers, but after lots of consideration and research I've decided to try a new doctor. My feelings about Dr. Shafer haven't changed at all, he was excellent and as you can see I was positively psyched with my results, but out of curiosity and the sake of comparison shopping I decided to try a new doctor, and a new product for my tear troughs: Restalyne (I had Juvederm before). After scouring the reviews for tear trough fillers around the country I became increasingly interested in Restalyne- it seemed like, given that you were being injected by a masterful doctor with tons of experience with the procedure, this product was more appropriate for a young person's under eye hollows because apparently it is less likely to migrate or move, which my Juvederm seemed to do under my right eye after a couple months. Dr. Shafer was very sure of Juvederm in that area and it didn't seem like he would even give Restalyne a second thought during our consultation, and that's cool because I know each doctor has their own preferences etc, but I am curious to find out for myself which HA filler is best for *me*.
I am going to a female doctor this time, a board certified dermatologist I found on this site, Dr. Michele Green. Her prices were just a little bit lower, which I know isn't the greatest way to go about purchasing filler treatments but it was a factor of importance to me, and I didn't feel like it was going to compromise my results. Her answers about fillers were detailed and personable, her reviews were wonderful and her experience is extensive. Plus, for me there is just something about having a female doctor that is a tiny bit more comforting than a male-- there is a natural personal understanding and resonance with what women want in terms of their physical appearance.
I scheduled my appointment over the phone with a charming secretary and was told to come in an hour early to make sure I am sufficiently numbed, as per Dr. Green's insistence. I found that to be extremely caring- not that I necessarily need it since I don't mind pain during medical procedures nor is it some huge scary syringe, but I remember last year Dr. Shafer had me ice my eyes for about two minutes after spending about 5 minutes consulting about what I wanted done. I felt like that was adequate. Hell, an entire hour early to be suffificently iced makes my colorful mind jump to cartoonish scenarios of me being strapped to a twisted chair bolted to a black and white checkered linoleum floor, eyes numb and blue from an hour of ice sitting on my face, when suddenly through a tall and slanted doorway a silhouette shows up as lightning bolts strike-- Dr. Greene, with black latex scrubs on and a crazed look in her eye. She holds a shiny pink syringe marked "MAKE ME PRETTY" and wields it over her shoulder like a shotgun. "You're not gonna feel a thing, dear" she snarls, "...Ever. Again."
I'm sorry, I'm really in the Halloween spirit and I'm officially trying to kill time waiting for my laundry to be done. In all seriousness though, I know she's just being cautious and well prepared- I have a lot of confidence in her and hope that she can both fill me up and still make me look like all I've had was a really good rest. I will let you know how it went as soon as I can, pictures and all!